Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha will play for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. On Wednesday he confirmed having received the acceptance letter from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
“Yes, I have the NOC (no objection certificate) from the Hyderabad Cricket Association and the acceptance letter from the CAB,” the 28-year-old Ojha told The Hindu .
Any reasons for leaving Hyderabad?
“Essentially, I wanted to play for an Elite Group team in the Ranji Trophy this season for better prospects. I spoke to the HCA management, which understood my predicament, and I am grateful that it is also very keen to see me play for India again,” Ojha said.
The tweaker, who last played for India in Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test against West Indies in 2013 and returned with a match-winning 10-wicket haul, said the decision to play for an Elite team was not taken after he was selected for the India ‘A’ team.
“I have been thinking about this for long. I am glad that everything has gone well so far,” he said.
Ojha, who has 113 wickets from 24 Tests and 21 from 18 ODIs, also said he would continue to play for R. Dayanand XI in the Hyderabad A-Division three-day league.
“Right now, my focus is on doing well for India ‘A’, and am working hard,” he said.
